U.S. Senator Disrupts Summit in Washington, Saying Christians are Israel's Ally
إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was booed offstage at a conference for Middle Eastern Christians, causing a disruption at the gala dinner of the In Defense of Christians summit in the U.S. capital Washington.
“Tonight, we are all united in defense of Christians... Tonight, we are all united in defense of Jews. Tonight, we are all united in defense of people of good faith, who are standing together against those who would persecute and murder those who dare disagree with their religious teachings,” Cruz said on Wednesday eve.
He enraged audience when he pointed out that “Christians have no greater ally than Israel,” slamming religious extremism as “cancer.”
Cruz noted that Islamic groups like Palestinian Hamas movement, Hizbullah and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) are carrying out “genocidal campaigns,” saying that the three groups are one.
The statement infuriated Lebanese Ambassador to the United States Antoine Chedid and Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Gregorios III Laham.
Laham was determined to withdraw from the gala dinner until Cruz left the room.
“Who kicked off Jews from Lebanon, Syria and Iraq?” Laham wondered, refusing to hear such words.
The audience started disagreeing with Cruz and booing him, calling on him to get off stage, which prompted him to say: “Those who hate Israel hate America. Those who hate Jews hate Christians. If those in this room will not recognize that, then my heart weeps.”
“If you hate the Jewish people you are not reflecting the teachings of Christ. And the very same people who persecute and murder Christians right now, who crucify Christians, who behead children, are the very same people who target Jews for their faith, for the same reason,” Cruz continued.
He criticized the audience, saying: “If you will not stand with Israel and the Jews, then I will not stand with you.”
Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi called on conferees not to “reply to the Senator as the work of the conference is far more important than individual statements.”
For his part, the President of In Defense of Christians, Toufic Baaklini, lauded al-Rahi, quoting him as saying: “At every wedding, there are a few wedding crashers.”
“In this case, a few politically motivated opportunists chose to divide a room that for more than 48 hours sought unity in opposing the shared threat of genocide, faced not only by our Christian brothers and sisters, but our Jewish brothers and sisters and people of other all other faiths and all people of good will,” he said in a statement.
The three-day conference aims at discussing the situation in the Middle East and the conditions of Christians. It gathered Orthodox Christians, evangelicals, Roman Catholics and others.
The Middle East is the home for about 12 million Christians, which constitute around 5 percent of the region's population.
H.K.
G.K.
11 September 2014, 13:25
48
Been telling m14ers forever... You should listen next time instead of following stooges like geagea. These crazies want nothing but your destruction whether you are christian muslim whatever as long as ur not pro zionist masters, u r their enemy.
11 September 2014, 13:58
00
can you ask this senator how many Christians are left in occupied Palestine(3israel )?
then you how much Zionists care for Christians
11 September 2014, 14:08
00
The Christians are the real loosers in this. The can not see friend from enemy and that is why we are loosing our ancestors soil.
In every arabic country the christians are treated like shit and still we hold on the the criminals. The christians of Middle East are suffering from "the Stockholm syndrome".
Ted Cruz is Wright in his speech!
11 September 2014, 14:21
26
Since the 1970s most US politicians have had no honor. They have created an electoral system totally skewed by money and lobbying.
US policy has been for a while totally pro-Israel, although it is not moral nor is it in the interest of the US or global security.
US policy, especially since the end of the cold war, is responsible for the mess we are witnessing in the Arab world.
A global balance of power needs to be restored to put a stop to this US bully.
11 September 2014, 15:06
62
Because the Jews (Zionists) had a long term strategy of winning American Public Opinion. They executed it brilliantly resulting in complete turn around from anti-Israel sentiments (in the 60s), to indifference (in the 70s), and then strong pro-Israel sentiment (last 20 or so years). They succeeded in painting Israel as the only Pro-West Democracy that can be counted on as an ally. At the same time they painted the Arab States (including Lebanon's HA) as the blood thirsty monsters that want to throw the civilized Israelis in the sea. The Arabs (including HA), did a wonderful job proving the Israeli propaganda to be a true image of Arabs and Muslims.
We have no one to blame but ourselves (all Arabs)we have done more harm to our cause than Israel could ever had. When a Westerner think ISIS, HA, NUSRA, HAMAS all they think of is crazy elements and killing machines.
11 September 2014, 16:00
16
Senator Ted Cruz, you are a cheap sellout like Quentin Tarantino. Jews and Christians have a common enemy but that doesn't make them allies.
Remember that it's the Jews who do not recognize Christ and his teachings.
11 September 2014, 16:24
00
Why this conference is in USA instead of Lebanon.... It doesn't make sense this conference should have been in a middle eastern country...
11 September 2014, 17:55
70
Lather, rinse, repeat
www.dailystar.com.lb/News/Lebanon-News/2003/Sep-22/41215-aouns-testimony-draws-more-fire.ashx#axzz36hByjhf5
11 September 2014, 21:28
10
Remember all replyers !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The time will show this senator is 100% right just remember the same destiny us the christians like the jews !!!!!! Years will tell
12 September 2014, 00:28
01
He's not only a Zionist gimp because of elections but he obviously doers recall Christian history.
12 September 2014, 11:42
00
Christianity's roots are from Judaism. That is why Christians feel closer to Israel than Muslim countries. Also Muslims states that non-Muslims are Infidels that deserves to die. Can you blame Ted Cruz or any Christians not to trust a Muslim? I'm sure most of you are going to label me as a Zionist which is far from the truth.
12 September 2014, 14:40
00
LMAO! The Cruz missile sinks another ship. I mean seriously, inviting a Tea Party ultra-conservative fear-monger (only yesterday, on the anniversary of 9/11, he went on CNN to declare that there are ISIL operatives on the Mexican border - without the slightest proof, as always) to ANY summit is inviting disaster.
Now boo-hoo-hoo, Ted got booed off stage by the very people who he was there to help. Bet you he's gonna go cry on Michelle Bachmann's shoulder now...
